area51novel Chapter 2046: Gangs and Teams
Chapter 2046: Gangs and Teams
Chapter 2046: Gangs and Teams
The grand ceremony of announcing the imperial edicts is a grand event.
The Imperial Guards set up the imperial procession in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and on both sides of the eaves of the Hall of Supreme Harmony were the music clubs and the orchestra.
Those below the rank of Heshuo Prince and above the rank of Eighth Duke lined up on the Danbi.
Civil and military ministers were on the Danchi.
The candidates for this undergraduate degree were ranked after the civil and military ministers.
In this way, even before the name is called, everyone already knows who the top scorer will be.
It's just too far away, so I can't see it clearly.
The Ninth Prince stood in the queue, also curious.
But in front of him was the Eighth Prince, and behind him was Beile Yanshou.
The one in front doesn’t want to talk, and the one behind is unfamiliar.
The Ninth Prince suppressed his curiosity.
The ceremony was solemn and dignified amid the sound of rituals and music.
But it was not strange to the Ninth Prince, as he had participated in it once three years ago and had seen it before.
The complicated ceremony did not end until 2:15 pm. The emperor then stood up and returned to the Qianqing Palace on the imperial sedan chair.
Everyone knelt to see him off.
When the Ninth Prince stood up, he felt his waist straighten, his legs weakened, and his body staggered.
I stood there for more than two hours.
The Tenth Prince was walking over and, seeing this, he held the Ninth Prince's arm.
"Brother Ninth..."
The Ninth Prince used the Tenth Prince's strength to stand firmly and said, "I didn't eat enough sesame cakes this morning..."
I ate it in the middle of the night, and after half a day, my breakfast was almost digested. I was so hungry that I was seeing stars.
The Ninth Prince took out a purse from his sleeve, put a piece of pork jerky wrapped in glutinous rice paper into his mouth, and then stuffed another piece into the Tenth Prince's mouth.
"Luckily I sent He Yuzhu to Baiweiju to reserve a table. I'm starving..."
Brother Ninth said.
"A banquet at Baiweiju?!"
The Fifth Prince was at the back with the Fourth Prince. When he heard what the Ninth Prince said, he quickly leaned over and asked, "What has been decided?"
The Ninth Prince said, "We ordered a few roast ducks, a lamb to roast, and the 'yellow diamond' shipped from Chaobai River..."
Since he was planning to have a banquet, he didn't plan to eat alone, and he also planned to invite a few brothers to come over.
But I couldn’t eat so much, so I planned to take half back to Haidian.
The Fifth Prince touched his stomach and said to the Fourth Prince, "Hurry up, hurry up, let's go together. I'm already hungry."
The princes were all on the Danbi, the difference was that the three who were not given titles were arranged according to the princes, while the ones who were given titles were arranged according to their titles.
In this way, several young princes are right behind.
The Thirteenth Prince and the Twelfth Prince walked side by side, neither of them spoke.
The Fourteenth Prince followed the Eldest Prince and mentioned the banquet hosted by Nantou.
“It happened so fast. Before, it was the brothers who treated the guests, but now the younger generations have reached the age where they can treat the guests…” said the Fourteenth Prince.
The eldest prince said, "They are all cousins, no different from real sisters. We can't not know each other. It's a good opportunity for us to play together."
He felt sorry for his daughters who had lost their mother. He was a loving father and hoped that his daughters would live a comfortable and relaxed life at home in the next few years.
The Fourteenth Prince looked at the Prince's silver sedan chair going away, nodded with a smile and said, "Yes, a grandfather and a grandson, they are not much different from relatives. In ordinary families outside, those who separated late still eat from the same pot!"
Gee!
The princesses in Yuqing Palace hadn't arranged a banquet yet, but the princesses in Prince Zhi's Mansion had already done so.
It's not wrong to follow the order of seniority.
But in the royal family, there are still distinctions between the highest and the lowest.
The boss has also become more careful.
Does this count as intentional solicitation?
Even if he didn't bring his brothers under his command, he was still doing it for the prince to see.
The eldest son and the eldest brother are different after all.
Although the guest at the banquet was the Third Princess, the Fourteenth Prince also thought of the Eldest Princess from the Prince of Zhi’s Mansion, who was actually the same age as him.
He looked at the eldest prince's beard, his face showing warmth, but he was secretly resentful in his heart.
Why did Emperor Taizu choose his youngest son, Prince Yutong, to succeed him? Was it not because of the old Manchu custom of "the youngest son guards the stove" but because he disliked his first son for being too old? !
In the later years of Taizu, Prince Lilie was in his forties and Emperor Taizong was also in his late forties.
The Third Prince, together with the Eighth Prince, asked about the banquet at Prince Xin's mansion.
He had heard a lot of gossip these days and he was curious.
"Old Nine really doesn't give face to Prince Xin, the leader of the banner, and left right after the meal started without even picking up his chopsticks?"
The third prince asked in a low voice.
The rumor outside is weird, saying that the Ninth Prince has become a reckless person.
The Third Prince felt that this was nonsense. If he really disliked Prince Xin, he would just not attend the banquet.
Even if you go there, you have to appear to be doing okay on the surface. Otherwise, why would you just go to your relative's house and throw a tantrum when you have nothing better to do?
It’s just that the Ninth Prince has always been very picky about food. If the food doesn’t suit his taste, he might eat less.
The Eighth Prince looked at the Third Prince, not knowing how to answer.
He had also heard some of the rumors outside, which were mostly exaggerated, but not groundless.
It is estimated that the princes in the palace were dissatisfied with the Ninth Prince's arrogance and complained to others.
He didn't want to say anything to the Third Prince, in case the Third Prince exaggerated the matter, he would be considered as the one causing trouble.
Prince Xin's Mansion has been at the center of controversy these days, and the Eighth Prince doesn't want to get involved in it.
However, the Eighth Prince did not want to defend the Ninth Prince. The worse the Ninth Prince's popularity in the Zhenglan Banner was, the better it would be for him.
He changed the subject and said, "The smallpox epidemic in the capital last year delayed many weddings. After the New Year, the royal family held wedding banquets in a rush. I heard that many families borrowed money from the Ministry of Revenue."
The Third Prince sighed, "It can't be helped. Extravagant weddings are popular nowadays. Dowries are getting more and more generous, and the betrothal gifts are also increasing. Even if Khan Ama is kind enough to give money to the royal family to marry, what can that money do? Marrying a daughter-in-law or a daughter-in-law is a painful process."
The Eighth Prince nodded and said, "Yes, for a general's mansion to marry off a daughter, they would borrow several thousand taels of silver; for a duke's mansion, they would borrow over ten thousand taels..."
It’s getting hot today, and it’s almost noon, which is when it’s getting hot.
The Third Prince pulled out a folding fan from his sleeve, shook it and said, "Nonsense! He is taking advantage of others and taking advantage of them in the name of marrying off his children!"
If you really lend money, half of it can be spent on your children, but the bulk of it should be lent out to earn interest.
As he said this, the Third Prince's heart moved.
Eating interest? !
Everyone knows that the court has not had major expenditures in recent years and the Ministry of Revenue has plenty of money.
Lending money is a grace. If others can take advantage of it, why shouldn't I take advantage of it?
It’s just not good to use your own name.
I had the money from the family division, and my children were young, so I had no suitable reason to borrow money.
However, there were many officials under his command, the highest of whom was of the fourth rank, and they were qualified to borrow money.
The Third Prince was ready to make a move, and the Eighth Prince saw this and lowered his eyes.
It is well known that the Third Prince is greedy for money, but he is also timid and loves fame.
By borrowing government silver, the Third Prince could take advantage of the situation without taking any risks. How could he miss this opportunity?
All I can say is that the Eighth Prince and the Fourteenth Prince thought the same thing.
What I think is “the law does not hold everyone responsible”.
What is different from the Fourteenth Prince is that, besides the principle of “the law does not hold everyone responsible”, he also wants to “follow the crowd”.
What's really wrong with looking back like that? I wasn't the one who took the lead, I just followed the crowd, so I can't be blamed.
The Third Prince was distracted and his pace slowed down.
The Eighth Prince also slowed down.
When he realized that there were few people around him, he looked up and saw the Fifth Prince in front of him calling out to the Twelfth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince to hurry up.
Next to the Fifth Prince are the Fourth Prince, the Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince.
A group of several princes went towards Donghua Gate.
The Eighth Prince was somewhat dazed.
Is this the Ninth Prince's treat?
So he and the Third Prince were left behind?
It’s fine for me, but when did the Third Prince offend the Ninth Prince?
The Eighth Prince looked at the Third Prince.
The Third Prince's mind was full of the issue of borrowing money, and he was already thinking about whether to borrow 50,000 or 100,000.
If it is one hundred thousand, with three percent interest, it would be thirty-six thousand taels of silver a year, which is more than the salary of seven county kings!
Not only the Eighth Prince was looking at the figure in front, but the Fourteenth Prince behind was also looking over there.
The Fourteenth Prince had stopped talking and was looking at the group of princes in front of him with a sullen face.
Seeing the Twelfth Prince approaching the Ninth Prince, the Ninth Prince turned around and spoke to him with a smile; on the other side, the Thirteenth Prince was next to the Fourth Prince, and they also seemed to be very close.
The fifth prince and the tenth prince were left. They didn't say anything, but they both followed the ninth prince.
Fourteenth Prince’s face flushed red.
This is angry.
What do you mean?
Who organized this bureau?
You called the 12th and 13th princes, but left me alone?
However, the Fourteenth Prince was a bit shrewd after all. He turned around and said to the eldest prince, "Brother, look at the excitement in front. It's time for dinner. The brothers must be going to taste the delicious food..."
Having said this, the Fourteenth Prince also had a guess.
Most likely it’s the Ninth Prince.
There is a good restaurant next door to his house, right on Di'anmenwai Street, so it is convenient to eat there.
The eldest prince glanced at his brothers in front of him and said, "Well, you got up in the middle of the night, I guess you are all starving. You should hurry back to the prince's residence. It's time to eat now, and you won't be too hungry..."
Fourteenth Brother: "..."
What is this word?
Did you mean eating?
When the group came out of Donghua Gate, a carriage was already waiting there.
The ninth prince's carriage, plus the tenth prince's carriage.
When they came from Haidian in the morning, although the brothers all took the Ninth Prince's carriage, the Tenth Prince's carriage also followed behind.
Everyone squeezed together and got on the carriage, heading for Di'anmenwai Street.
The Ninth Prince asked the Twelfth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince to get on his carriage, while the Tenth Prince asked the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince to get on his carriage.
The Ninth Prince said to the Twelfth Prince, "The official kiln is already being built. Have the craftsmen been selected?"
There are wine-making craftsmen in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ninth Prince plans to recruit people directly from there.
The twelfth prince said, "It's done. Sixty-three people have signed up. According to the ninth prince's instructions, twenty people will be selected."
The Ninth Prince nodded and said, "Okay, I'll see them in a few days and pick two steady ones to take turns in Tongzhou!"
The Thirteenth Prince was listening and said, "Ninth Brother, you are an official and you are busy with your work. Aren't you afraid of being impeached by the censor?"
Due to droughts that occurred nine out of ten years, food was scarce in Zhili. This was why many prefectures in Zhili banned cooking, for fear of wasting food.
The Ninth Prince said, "Don't worry. I use potatoes to make wine, not grain. If there is an imperial censor who is nagging me, I will have a good talk with him..."
The most important thing is that it was not his private property, but the property of the Lifanyuan, and it was approved by the emperor...